With a Friday night deadline looming to either fund the government or risk a shutdown, the Senate is preparing for a crucial vote on a Trump-backed bill recently passed by the House of Representatives. The proposed deal would extend federal operations for six months, but Democrats face pressure from their grassroots supporters to oppose it, citing concerns over deep spending cuts.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has consistently opposed government shutdowns, signaled his support for the bill, increasing its chances of passage. “President Trump and Republican leaders would like nothing more than to pull us into the mud of a protracted government shutdown. For Donald Trump, a shutdown would be a gift,” Schumer said on the Senate floor, Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported.
“It would be the best distraction he could ask for from his awful agenda. Right now, Donald Trump owns the chaos in the government,” he added.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman also backed the bill, and other Democrats, wary of being blamed for a shutdown without a clear resolution, appeared inclined to follow suit.
However, Schumer has not issued a party-wide directive, stating that each senator will make their own decision, leaving the outcome uncertain.
The U.S. has experienced four major government shutdowns lasting more than a day, with the most recent occurring during Trump’s first term.
During the shutdown, up to 900,000 federal employees could be furloughed, while another million essential workers—such as air traffic controllers and law enforcement officers—would be required to work without pay.
Although Social Security and other benefits remain intact, disruptions would impact various services, leading to delays, national park closures, and the suspension of food safety inspections.
At the center of the latest political battle is Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative unofficially led by billionaire Elon Musk. DOGE aims to slash federal spending by $1 trillion this year, claiming to have already saved over $100 billion—though independent assessments suggest the actual savings are far lower.
Some Party Leaders Cautioned On Government Shutdown
Democratic grassroots activists, outraged by what they perceive as Musk’s unchecked influence over federal operations, are urging their leaders to resist both DOGE and Trump’s agenda.
Senate rules encourage bipartisan cooperation, meaning the funding bill will require the support of at least eight Democratic senators. Earlier in the week, such backing seemed unlikely, as many Democrats opposed the bill’s failure to impose restrictions on Musk’s growing influence.
However, some party leaders cautioned that a government shutdown could ultimately benefit Musk by diverting attention from DOGE’s controversial measures and enabling further layoffs.
Republicans expressed confidence that enough Democrats would vote in favor, particularly those facing tough reelection battles in the 2026 midterms and wary of being blamed for legislative gridlock.
Despite this, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff remained steadfast in his opposition, criticising the bill’s Republican authors for not imposing “any meaningful constraints on the reckless and unaccountable Trump administration.”
Meanwhile, the Republican leader of the Senate, John Thune, pressed Democrats to take a definitive stance, warning that it was “time for Democrats to fish or cut bait.” “Democrats need to decide if they’re going to support this funding legislation, or if they’re going to shut down the government,” he said.
ALSO READ | Trump Now Threatens Massive 200% Tariff On European Alcohol As Trade War Intensifies
